Rhianna Benson
Bosses at Spotify have been forced to act after they were accused of 'monetising' a set of podcast courses hosted by controversial social media personality Andrew Tate.
Despite currently facing six legal investigations - four criminal and two civil - the music and podcast streaming service seemingly allowed the alleged sex trafficker to host three courses titled 'Andrew Tate PHD (Pimping Hoes Degree)' on the app.
A petition was created by opposers to the 38-year-old's Spotify presence. It has already racked up a staggering 84,500 signatures at the time of writing.
Spotify has reacted by removing several podcasts this week, including the 'pimping hoes degree', the Guardian reports. However, the streaming company has not yet issued a statement on the matter.
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This came just days after the digital music service joined several other huge corporations in sharing a carousel of content celebrating International Women's Day (8 Mar).
Naturally, the fact the self-professed 'misogynist' - who gained notoriety for promoting strong views against women in the 'manosphere community - had content live on their platform didn't go down well with millions of subscribers.
Anti-trafficking advocate Renee Chopping, who worked alongside the nonprofit organisation Collective Shout to register a petition to have Tate's content removed from the streaming service, accused Spotify of 'cashing in on the exploitation of women and girls' by allowing the courses, which date back to 2023, onto the app.
The petition also described Tate's lessons as a means of 'actively' teaching 'men how to manipulate, control, and profit from the exploitation of women'.
Elsewhere in the petition, Chopping, who described herself as a trauma counsellor supporting survivors of sex trafficking, lifted the lid on the potentially fatal harm that allowing and promoting such material could have upon society.
"In classrooms, I’ve sat with young boys who admire influencers like Andrew Tate," she explained. "Believing that dominance, aggression, and entitlement define success and masculinity.
"I’ve also listened to young girls express the daily impact of these toxic ideals – how they feel pressured to meet unrealistic beauty standards, tolerate degradation and rape threats, and navigate a world where they are seen as objects rather than equals."
The online appeal gained mass traction online.
Taking to social media before the podcasts were removed, one Spotify subscriber lashed out at the streaming service: "Men twitter users & male followers, if this stuff from boy Tate's spotify podcast course is OK with you, unfollow me now.
"If it's not OK with you, sign the petition to have this s**t removed from Spotify."
Another implored their followers: "IF YOU HAVEN'T DONE SO already, please sign this petition demanding that @Spotify STOP hosting accused rapist #AndrewTate's 'courses' on how to control, mainpulate & 'break' women.
"Is there ANY platform left not profiting from hating on #women?!"
Another contacted Spotify directly: "Hey @SpotifyCares - I don't think you do care because this harmful course is still up on your site. You are complicit in inciting violence against women.
"Over 15,000 ppl have signed. Demand Spotify Remove Andrew Tate’s Harmful Courses on How to Traffic Women - Sign the Petition!"
Tyla has contacted Spotify for comment.
In 2022, Tate and his brother Tristan were arrested in Romania before being charged with rape, human trafficking, and forming an organised crime group to sexually exploit women six months later.
British police also obtained an arrest warrant on the grounds of rape and human trafficking, as well as alleged tax evasion.
The brothers have denied the allegations, with former kickboxer Tate having since filed a defamation lawsuit.